Library  of  the  Theological  Seminary 

PRINCETON         c       NEW    JERSEY 


From  the  Library  of 

Professor  Benjamin  Breckinridge  Warfield 

1922 


BX8080.W34  J36  1899 

Janzow,  C.  L. 

Life  of  Rev.  Prof  C.  F.  W.  Walther  / 


Warficld  Library 


Life  of 


vV 


Rev.  Prof.  C.  F.  W.  WALTHER.  D.  D. 


fly 


C.  L.  JANZOW, 


* 


Edited  by 

The  Revision  Board,  English  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod  of  Missouri  a«  o.  States. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  PUBLICATION  BOARD, 

PITTSBURG,  PA. 

J  899. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Preface^    .........     7 

Childhood  and  Youth^           .....  9 

The  Student^    .         .         .         .         .         .         .  .13 

Tulor  in  Cahla.     Pastor  in  Braeunsdorf^            .  17 

The  Emigrant^         .         .         .         .         .         .  .21 

The  St.  Louis  Pastor, 24 

Organizer  and  President  Missouri  Synod,      .  .  30 

Professor  and  Doctor  of  Divinity,       ...  34 

The  Champion  of  True  Lutheranism,     .         .  .38 

The  Man  of  Letters,             .....  44 

The  Advocate  of  English  Mission   Work,         .  .  48 

Father,   Christian!,   Gentleman  and  Companion,  .  52 

Faithful  Unto  the  End, 58 


•C.c/.^^^- 


f^-^K 


PREFACE. 

It  is  but  too  true  that  "our  fathers  find  their 
graves  in  our  short  memories."  Significantly 
therefore  are  we  admonished  :  "Remember  them 
which  have  the  rule  over  you,  who  have  spoken 
unto  you  the  word  of  God  :  whose  faith  follow, 
considering  the  end  of  their  conversation."  Hebr. 
13:7. 

Sketches  of  lives,  such  as  the  one  here 
offered,  therefore,  require  no  apology.  They  are 
needed  aids  to  preserve  hallowed  memories  of 
God's  good  gifts,  the  record  of  "footprints  in  the 
sands  of  time"  fraught  with  encouragement,  in- 
spiration and  comfort  on  life's  varied  course. 

May  the  work  of  the  author,  who,  amid  the 
activity  of  a  large  charge,  kindly  consented  to 
prepare  this  booklet,  abound  in  blessings  upon  its 
readers. 

For  the 
AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  PUBUCATION  BOARD, 

H.  B.  HEMMETER. 

Pitisbarg,  Pa. 

Ndhembtr  1899. 


CHILDHOOD  AND  YOUTH. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  October,  1811,  in  Lang- 
enchursdorf,  a  village  in  Saxony,  Germany,  a  son  was 
born  to  a  pastor  whose  ancestors,  for  generations,  had 
been  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  the  Reverend  Gottlieb 
Heinrich  Wilhelm  Walther,  and  his  wife  Johanna  Wil- 
helmina  Walther,  nee  Zschenderlein.  When  baptized, 
the  babe  was  named  Carl  Ferdinand  Wilhelm  Walther. 
The  parents,  having  mourned  the  loss  of  two  sons,  were 
greatly  rejoiced  at  the  birth  of  this  their  eighth  child; 
still,  they  certainly  did  not  imagine  that  their  beloved 
Ferdinand  would  become  the  most  eminent  theologian 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
in  a  country  far  west  of  the  German  fatherland,  in 
America.  Ferdinand  received  a  tender  mother's  care. 
His  father  was  somewhat  severe,  at  times  even  stern, 
toward  his  children,  so  that  they  stood  in  awe  of  him. 
For  instance,  little  Ferdinand  was  once  severely  pun- 
ished because  he  had  seated  himself  on  the  sofa.  Still, 
though  severe,  the  father  was  not  wanting  in  kindness 
and  affection,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact,  that  on  one  oc- 
casion he  made  little  Ferdinand,  then  three  years  old, 


10  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

an  extra  Christmas  present,  because  he  was  pleased  with 
him.  Santa  Claus,  namely,  as  is  customary  in  Saxony 
and  other  parts  of  Germany,  visited  the  houses  of  the 
good  Langenchursdorf  people  on  that  Christmas  eve, 
asking  the  children  to  say  a  prayer,  a  verse,  or  a  pas- 
sage of  Scripture,  and  entered  the  house  of  Pastor 
Walther  also.  When  little  Ferdinand's  turn  came,  he 
prayed  with  folded  hands : 

Jesus'  blood  and  righteousness 
My  jewel  is  and  festive  dress, 
With  this  shall  I  fore  God  prevail 
When  I  the  heavenly  portals  hail. 

This  so  pleased  his  father  that  he  gave  the  boy  a 
"Dreier"  (a  small  coin)  as  an  extra  present.  This  oc- 
currence, moreover,  made  a  great  impression  on  little 
Ferdinand.  He  thought :  This  certainly  must  be  a  good 
verse,  if  papa  gives  me  a  "Dreier"  for  reciting  it.  Im- 
pressed upon  his  heart  and  mind,  it  accompanied  him 
through  college  and  rationalism. 

It  was  the  aim  of  Pastor  Walther  to  educate  his  chil- 
dren well,  and  toward  the  accomplishment  of  this,  con- 
sidering his  means,  he  made  liberal  allowances.  Up  to 
his  eighth  year,  Ferdinand  was  instructed  in  the  ele- 
mentary branches  by  his  father,  and  in  the  school  of 
his  native  city.    At  the  age  of  eight,  he  left  his  father's 


CHILDHOOD  AND  YOUTH.  H 

house  to  attend  the  city-school  of  Hohenstein.  In  his 
tenth  year,  he  entered  the  college  at  Schneeberg,  where 
he  remained  until  September  20,  1829,  when  he  was 
graduated  with  the  highest  honors,  being  not  quite 
eighteen  years  of  age. 

All  this  time  Walther  had  been  under  the  instruction 
and  influence  of  rationalistic  teachers.     Speaking  of  his 
college  days,  about  fifty  years  later,  he  gave  expression 
to  this  sad  statement:  "I  was  about  eighteen  years  of 
age  when  I  left  college,  and  I  had  not  yet  heard  one 
sentence  quoted  from  God's  Word  by  a  true  beHever. 
Up  to  that  time  I  never  had  a  Bible  in  my  possession, 
not  even  a  Catechism,  but  only  a  miserable  text-book 
of  pagan  morals."    And  again :  "My  dear.  God-fearing 
father  had  taught  me  from  earliest  childhood  that  the 
Bible  is  the  Word  of  God.     But  very  soon  I  had  to 
leave  my  father's  home — being  not  quite  eight  years 
old — and  came  into  contact  with  unbelievers.    The  his- 
torical faith  I  never  have  lost.     Like  an  angel  of  God 
it  has  accompanied  me  through  life.     But  during  those 
eight  years  of  my  attendance  at  college,  I  lived  in  an 
unconverted  state." 

Before  graduating,  it  was  not  Walther's  intention  to 
study  theology,  as  he  desired  to  devote  himself  to 
music ;  but  when  he  informed  his  father  of  his  predilec- 


12  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

tion,  he  met  with  the  reply :  "If  you  want  to  become  a 
musician,  you  will  have  to  shift  for  yourself;  if,  how- 
ever, you  will  study  theology,  I  will  give  you  a  'Thaler' 
per  week." 

It  was  evidently  due  to  divine  guidance  that  Walther 
turned  from  music  to  theology.  He  was  a  chosen  ves- 
sel unto  God  to  bear  His  name  before  many,  and  to 
rear  the  banner  of  true  Lutheranism  in  distant  coun- 
tries. He  was  confirmed  in  his  resolution  to  enter  the 
ministry  by  reading  of  the  pastoral  work  and  self-sac- 
rificing labors  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Oberlin,  and  some  good 
tracts,  which  he  had  received  from  his  brother  Her- 
mann. 


THE  STUDENT. 

In  the  latter  part  of  October,  1829,  Walther  matricu- 
lated at  the  University  of  Leipzig  as  a  student  of  theo- 
logy. His  resources  were  extremely  meager.  From 
his  father  he  received  a  "Thaler"  a  week ;  from  another 
source,  a  little  fuel.  By  giving  private  lessons,  he  earn- 
ed enough  to  barely  cover  his  expenses.  He  did  not 
even  possess  a  Bible,  until  one  day  he  bought  a  cheap 
edition  when  he  had  but  a  few  pennies  in  his  purse, 
trusting  in  Providence  to  provide  the  means  of  subsis- 
tence the  next  day.  And  God  did  provide!  On  the 
next  day  a  peasant  from  Langenchursdorf  visited  the 
poor  student  and  brought  him  a  letter  from  his  father 
containing  a  present  of  an  extra  "Thaler." 

Walther  made  faithful  use  of  the  Bible  he  esteemed 
so  highly,  and  it  was  but  natural  that  his  scholars  should 
share  the  benefits  of  his  studies.  One  of  his  pupils 
writes  of  him :  "To  Walther  I  owe  my  salvation.  Be- 
fore coming  to  him,  I  did  not  know  that  I  was  a  sinner; 
I  knew  nothing  of  Christ  and  his  grace,  nothing  of  the 
Bible.  To  my  present  dear  teacher  I  am  indebted  for 
all  this.     I,  a  poor,  weak,  sinful  human  being,  am  un- 


14  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

able  to  repay  him,  but  God  will  certainly  reward  him 
for  leading  a  soul  heavenward." 

At  the  University  rationalism  held  sway  among  pro- 
fessors and  students.  Of  the  former  only  two  defended 
Christianity,  while  among  the  latter  a  small  number  had 
accepted  Christ.  These  assembled  on  certain  days  of 
the  week  for  the  reading  of  Scripture,  prayer,  and  mu- 
tual edification.  Walther  was  a  member  of  this  circle, 
and  the  meetings  proved  of  untold  blessing  to  his  soul. 

The  leader  of  this  pious  band  of  students,  Candidate 
Kuehn,  was  an  earnest  Christian.  He  had  passed 
through  all  the  terrors  of  the  Law — through  inexpres- 
sible anguish  of  soul — before  he  reached  a  joyful  as- 
surance of  salvation  through  Christ.  Unfortunately 
he  imagined  that  every  one  must  pass  through  the 
same  experiences,  and  endeavored  to  convince  the  stu- 
dents that  their  Christianity  did  not  rest  on  a  firm 
foundation  until  they  had,  like  himself,  been  tortured 
by  the  terrors  of  hell  and  anguish  of  despair.  The  con- 
sequence was  a  gloomy,  morose  Christianity. 

The  books  used  were  also  of  a  character  to  crush 
rather  than  to  uplift  and  comfort  a  seeking  soul.  The 
precious  promises  of  the  Gospel  did  not  seem  to  apply 
to  such  sinners  as  they  were.  Walther  also  labored 
under  this  delusion,  he  also  thought  that  the  old  man 


THE  STUDENT.  15 

in  US  must  be  utterly  destroyed  before  we  can  comfort 
ourselves  with  the  assurances  of  divine  grace.  At  that 
time  he  passed  through  the  "Slough  of  Despond." 
Prayer,  weeping,  fasting,  wrestling,  was  all  in  vain :  the 
peace  of  God  had  departed  from  his  soul. 

When  he  was  thus  in  the  very  depths  of  despondency, 
he  became  acquainted  with  a  most  pious  family,  named 
Barthel.  Heavenly  peace  prevailed  in  this  household. 
Mrs.  Barthel  especially  took  a  loving  interest  in  the 
strange  youth,  comforted  him  with  evangelical  pas- 
sages from  Scripture,  prayed  for  him  in  earnest  prayer. 
And  God  heard  the  prayer.  The  cloud  of  gloom  van- 
ished, and  in  its  place  blissful  peace  took  possession  of 
his  soul.  Several  pastors  had  advised  Walther  to  write 
to  Rev.  Stephan,  in  Dresden,  for  counsel.  This  he  did, 
and  the  reply  was  such  as  to  assure  him  of  the  grace  of 
God,  and  fill  his  soul  with  inexpressible  gladness. 

During  the  winter  183 1- 1832  his  studies  were  inter- 
rupted by  an  apparently  fatal  lung  trouble.  Being 
compelled  to  leave  the  University,  he  returned  to  his 
home.  Even  in  this  affliction  the  hand  of  Providence 
is  evident,  for,  during  the  time  of  his  convalescence,  he 
studied  Luther's  works  most  assiduously,  and  there 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  theological  knowledge  and 
gained  his  firm  conviction  of  the  Scripturalness  of 
Lutheran  doctrines. 


10  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

Having  regained  his  health,  he  returned  to  the  Uni- 
versity, in  1832,  and  remained  till  Easter,  1833,  when 
he  was  graduated  with  high  honors.  In  September  he 
was  examined  previously  to  being  licensed  to  preach. 
In  the  course  of  the  oral  examination,  conducted  by 
the  learned  Dr.  G.  B.  Winer,  he  was  asked  to  explain 
Romans  3  :28,  and  whether  Luther  was  correct  in  in- 
serting the  word  "allein"  (alone) — allein  durch  den 
Glauben:  by  faith  alone — which  is  not  found  in  the 
Greek  text.  Walther  replied  in  the  affirmative.  The 
professors  and  students  present  derided  the  "pietist  and 
mystic"  for  his  ignorance.  Winer,  however,  continued 
the  examination,  and,  after  Walther  had  borne  out  his 
assertion  with  striking  proofs,  turned  to  the  learned 
audience  with  the  remark:  "Gentlemen,  this  young 
mystic  understands  St.  Paul  better  than  any  one  of 
you."  It  is  needless  to  state  that  this  remark  silenced 
the  sneers  most  effectively. 


TUTOR  IN    CAHLA.     PASTOR   IN  BRAEUNS- 

DORF. 

For  various  reasons  Walther  could  not  enter  the 
ministry  immediately  after  his  graduation  from  the 
University.  Before  taking  charge  of  a  pastorate,  he 
was,  according  to  usage,  subjected  to  another  exami- 
nation, which  was  passed  in  1836.  The  intervening 
years  he  spent  at  home,  and  as  tutor  in  Cahla  in  the 
house  of  Senator  Loeber,  a  brother  of  the  sainted  Rev. 
G.  H.  Loeber,  Altenburg,  Mo.  (ti849).  He  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  Braeunsdorf,  Saxony,  by  the  pious 
Count  of  Einsiedel,  and  ordained  for  the  ministry  on 
the  15th  of  January,  1837.  More  than  100  of  his  fu- 
ture parishioners  came  to  Langenchursdorf  to  escort 
their  pastor  to  his  new  home.  Much  to  Walther's  joy, 
the  ordaining  Superintendent  ordained  him  according 
to  the  Apostolic-Lutheran  rite,  and  not  according  to 
the  rationalistic  formula,  commonly  in  use.  He  was 
pledged  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  accordance  with  the 
Book  of  Concord.  His  inaugural  was  an  earnest  of  his 
future  pastoral  activity.  Preaching  from  Jeremiah  i  :6-9., 
he  prefaced  the  sermon  by  remarking  that  the  consid- 


18  LIFE  OF  WAJLTHER. 

eration  of  the  importance  and  difficulties  of  the  ministry, 
the  thought  of  the  account  which  he  would  have  to 
render  before  God,  the  feeling  of  his  own  weakness 
and  inability,  indeed  tended  to  weigh  him  down;  still 
a  Christian  minister  should  rejoice  on  the  day  of  his  in- 
stallation, and  that,  mainly  for  the  three  reasons  found 
in  his  text,  namely:  (i)  that  he  comes,  not  by  his  own 
choice,  but  by  God's  call;  (2)  that  he  comes,  not  with 
his  own  wisdom,  but  with  God's  Word;  (3)  that  he 
comes,  trusting  not  in  his  own  power,  but  in  God's 
help. 

Spiritually,  the  congregation  was  in  a  deplorable  con- 
dition. The  poor  people  had  not  heard  the  living, 
quickening  Word  for  many  years.  The  true,  living 
faith  and  a  corresponding  spiritual  life  were  unknown. 
The  ignorance,  both  in  secular  and  religious  matters, 
was  appalling.  The  religious  instruction  in  the  school 
consisted  in  inculcating  morality,  a  marvelous  mixture 
of  error  and  truth.  Walther's  task  was  a  stupendous 
one.  With  all  fidelity  and  earnestness,  he  endeavored 
to  enlighten  his  flock,  sought  to  show  them  their  er- 
rors, and  to  lead  them  to  the  Savior.  It  is  natural  that 
his  course  provoked  hostility.  His  main  enemies  were 
the  superintendent  of  the  district  and  the  teacher  at  his 
own  school.    Both  of  these  men  were  rationalists  of  the 


TUTOR  IN  CAHLA.    PASTOR  IN  BRAEUNSDORF.  19 

deepest  dye,  and  combined  to  counteract  the  influence 
of  Walther,  the  latter  as  a  spy,  the  former  as  a  perse- 
cutor. 

In  the  biography  of  Buenger,  Walther  gives  a 
graphic  description  of  the  conditions  obtaining  in  the 
State-church  of  Saxony,  which  was  Lutheran  in  name, 
but  not  in  fact.  The  candidates  of  the  ministry  were 
indeed  obligated  to  preach  the  Word  of  God  in  con- 
formity with  the  Confessions  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
but  this  was,  according  to  Walther,  nothing  but  a 
comedy.  The  most  important  institutions  were  vir- 
tually public  renunciations  of  the  Confessions.  The 
"Book  of  Forms"  contained  orders  for  worship  which 
denied  cardinal  doctrines  of  Holy  Writ.  The  prescribed 
prayers  were  of  such  a  character  that  a  conscientious 
pastor  could  not  use  them  in  the  pulpit  or  in  private. 
The  hymnal  even  was  contaminated  by  the  religion  of 
reason.  The  school-books  were  leavened  by  rational- 
ism. Repeatedly  Walther  deviated  from  the  prescribed 
forms,  was  reported  to  the  Superintendent,  who  insti- 
tuted legal  proceedings  against  him,  the  costs  of  which 
Walther  was  obliged  to  bear.  The  great  majority  of 
pastors,  especially  the  more  influential  superiors  in  of- 
fice, were  pronounced  heretics.  Owing  to  the  fact  that 
citizenship  implied  church-membership,  it  was  impos- 


10  LIFE  OF  WAXiTHER. 

sible  to  exercise  church-discipline,  to  suspend  and  ex- 
communicate manifestly  impenitent  sinners  from  relig- 
ious privileges.  All  these  abuses  weighed  heavily  upon 
the  mind  and  consciences  of  such  as  were  earnest  and 
pious  believers  of  the  Gospel.  They  would  gladly  have 
organized  a  "free  church,"  but  were  not  permitted  to  do 
so.  As  long  as  they  remained  in  their  fatherland,  they 
were  compelled  to  remain  in  membership  with  an  ut- 
terly corrupt,  despotic,  tyrannic  state-church. 

Small  wonder  indeed,  then,  that  the  oppressed  Luth- 
erans of  Saxony  sighed  for  relief  and  cast  about  for 
some  avenue  of  escape.  They  heard  of  the  distant 
America,  where  every  one  was  permitted  to  worship 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience. 

In  the  year  1838,  the  second  year  of  Walther's  min- 
istry, the  famous  Rev.  Stephan,  of  Bremen,  called  upon 
all  whose  consciences  were  oppressed  by  the  existing 
conditions,  to  emigrate  to  America  in  order  to  enjoy 
the  religious  liberty  offered  by  this  country.  A  num- 
ber of  families  from  various  walks  of  life  responded, 
among  them  Walther.  He  resigned  his  charge,  and  to- 
gether with  his  brother  Hermann,  joined  the  company 
of  those  who  were  looking  and  longing  for  freedom, 
and  were  willing  to  forsake  their  country,  kith  and  kin 
for  the  inestimable  privilege  of  serving  God  in  all  sim- 
plicity and  purity  of  heart  according  to  the  Word  of 
Holy  Writ. 


THE  EMIGRANT. 

On  the  i6th  Sunday  after  Trinity,  1838,  Walther  de- 
livered his  valedictory  sermon  to  a  weeping  congrega- 
tion.   The  parting  was  sad;  for  all,  even  his  opponents, 
had  learned  to  know  him  as  an  honest,  upright  man, 
who  sought  their  welfare.    Though  he  erred  in  leaving 
the  charge  to  which  he  had  been  divinely  called— an 
error  which  he  afterwards    saw    and    confessed — God 
held  His  protecting  hand  over  him.     He  was  to  have 
taken  passage  on  the  "Amalia,"  but  not  arriving  in  time 
went  aboard  the  "Johann  Georg."    The  ''Amalia,"  after 
leaving  port,  disappeared  and  has  never  been  heard  of 
since.     The  "Johann     Georg,"  however,  left  Bremer- 
hafen,  November  3,  1838,  and,  after  a  stormy  voyage, 
arrived  at  New  Orieans,  January  5,  1839.    Thence  the 
Saxon  emigrants,  about  800  in  number,  proceeded  to 
St.  Louis;  but  the  majority  of    them     soon  settled  in 
Perry  County,  Mo.    There  Walther  took  charge  of  the 
flock  at  Dresden  and  afterwards  of  that  at  Johannis- 
berg.    Great  poverty  prevailed  among  the  settlers,  but, 
what  was  worse,  ecclesiastical    anarchy    threatened  to 
ruin  them.     Stephan,  their  leader,  turned  out  to  be  a 


9S  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

deceiver,  and  the  colonists  were  stunned  and  bewilder- 
ed. Many  now  doubted  that  they  constituted  Chris- 
tian congregations,  that  they  had  authority  to  call  min- 
isters and  to  exercise  church-discipline,  that  their  min- 
isters were  divinely  called  and  really  ministers,  that  they 
had  a  right  to  remain  in  this  country.  Walther,  too, 
was,  for  a  time,  tossed  about  by  doubts  and  fears.  But 
again  diligently  studying  Luther  and  other  church 
fathers  on  the  burning  questions  of  the  day,  he  soon 
became  firmly  convinced  and  certain  of  what  was  right, 
and  obtained  peace  of  heart  and  mind. 

In  April,  1841,  he  held  a  public  disputation  at  Alten- 
burg  and  showed  powerfully  and  convincingly  that  the 
congregations  were  still  Christian  congregations,  that 
the  Lord  Jesus  and  his  Word  and  Sacraments  were 
still  among  them,  that  God  had  a  people  and  a  church 
also  at  this  place.  Like  thunderbolts  his  clear,  forcible 
arguments,  taken  from  Scripture  and  fortified  by  quo- 
tations from  the  Confessions  and  Luther  and  brought 
to  bear  with  fiery  eloquence,  smote  the  opponents  and 
completely  silenced  them.  To  the  oppressed  and 
wounded  hearts,  however,  thirsting  for  truth  and  con- 
solation, Walther's  words  were  a  healing  balm.  Thus, 
then,  was  he  the  instrument  of  God  to  preserve  the 
Saxon  colonies  from  utter  ruin.    In  the  midst  of  all  this 


THE  EMIGRANT.  33 

turmoil  he  assisted  several  of  his  friends  (Fuerbringer, 
Brohm  and  Buenger)  in  founding  a  high  school  in  a 
rude  log  cabin.  In  that  school  were  to  be  taught  Reli- 
gion, Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  German,  French,  English, 
History,  Geography,  Mathematics,  Natural  Philosophy, 
Natural  History,  Mental  Philosophy,  Music  and  Draw- 
ing. That  rude  log  cabin  in  the  wilds  of  Perry  County, 
Mo.,  has  since  given  way  to  the  well-known  Concordia 
College,  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  and  the  theological  Concor- 
dia Seminary,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  a  most  beautiful  and 
magnificent  building,  from  which  hundreds  of  young 
men  have  issued  forth,  well  equipped,  to  preach  the 
pure  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  German,  English, 
and  Norwegian  languages  in  America,  Europe  and 
Australia. 


THE  ST.  LOUIS  PASTOR. 

On  the  8th  day  of  February,  1841,  Walther  was 
called  by  the  First  German  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Congregation  of  St.  Louis  to  succeed  in  its  pastorate 
his  sainted  brother,  the  Rev.  Hermann  Walther.  The 
vocation  was  in  Walther's  hands  before  the  celebrated 
Altenburg  disputation,  but  certain  scruples  delayed  hi.^ 
accepting  it.  On  April  26,  same  year,  however,  he  de- 
clared before  the  congregation  in  St.  Louis  that,  since 
all  obstacles  had  now  been  removed,  he  would  accept 
the  call.  He  had  recovered  his  health,  he  explained; 
the  manner  of  calling  him  had  been  in  no  wise  con- 
trary to  the  divine  order;  his  errors  in  the  matter  of 
emigration  were  not  such  as  to  make  him  unworthy  of 
the  holy  office  i  Tim.  2,'- 7',  Tit.  1:7);  the  congregation, 
being  Christian  indeed,  was  entitled  to  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  a  Christian  congregation.  On  the  third 
Sunday  after  Easter,  Jubilate,  he  preached  his  inaug- 
ural sermon. 

As  Lutheran  pastor  of  St.  Louis,  however,  Walther 
was  far  from  enjoying  rest.  A  number  of  turbulent, 
separatistic    spirits  in  the    church  were  a  thorn  in  his 


THE  ST.  LOUIS  PASTOR.  38 

flesh.  Charging  the  new  pastor  with  pursuing  hierar- 
chical tendencies,  they  tried  their  utmost  to  induce  the 
congregation  to  discharge  him,  or  even  to  disband. 
They  did  not  succeed,  however,  since  Walther  fortified 
the  congregation  against  them  by  clear  testimonies 
taken  from  Scripture,  the  Confessions,  Luther,  and  the 
Church  Fathers.  Walther  remained,  and  his  charge 
grew.  Even  at  this  early  date,  while  yet  laboring  under 
heavy  financial  burdens,  the  congregation  was  led  by 
Walther  to  provide  conscientiously  and  systematically 
for  the  needy  and  unfortunate,  not  only  in  its  own 
midst,  but  also  in  the  old  home  across  the  waters. 

Pastor  Walther  drew  up  for  his  church  a  constitution 
based  upon  the  Lutheran  Confessions.  It  was  dis- 
cussed in  many  congregational  meetings,  finally  adopt- 
ed, and  signed  by  the  voting  members  in  1843.  -^^  the 
same  time,  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  into 
"Trinity  Congregation."  After  Walther's  "Trinity 
Constitution"  many  hundreds  of  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions have  modeled  theirs. 

Up  to  1842  the  services  of  Walther's  flock  had  been 
held  in  the  basement  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church  of  St. 
Louis.  It  now  became  necessary  for  the  Lutheran 
congregation,  numbering  112  voting  members  and 
325  souls,  to  erect  a  church-building  of  its  own.     The 


36  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

foundation  of  this  edifice  was  laid  June  22,  1842,  on 
Lombard  Street,  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets. 
On  December  4th  of  the  same  year,  the  new  church 
was  dedicated. 

The  next  year,  "Trinity,"  urged  by  Walther,  joined 
the  group  of  congregations  fostering  the  College  at 
Altenburg.  Pastor  Walther,  already  at  this  time, 
wished  that  institution  removed  to  St.  Louis;  but  ow- 
ing to  the  attitude  of  the  Perry  County  congregations 
with  regard  to  this  matter  he  refrained  from  urging  his 
plan. 

In  1844,  the  burden  of  pastoral  work  having  become 
too  great  for  Walther  alone,  Candidate  J.  F.  Buenger, 
since  1840  in  charge  of  the  parochial  school  connected 
with  Trinity  Church,  was  called  as  second  pastor  of  the 
congregation.  The  two  pastors  worked  together  in 
great  harmony  for  many  years  until  death  separated 
them. 

Walther  took  great  pains  to  have  excellent  parochial 
schools  established.  One  such  was  soon  opened  in  the 
northern  section  of  the  city,  on  Franklin  Avenue.  Then 
a  congregation  (Immanuel's),  with  Buenger  as  second 
pastor  was  branched  off  in  this  vicinity.  Hereupon 
another  school  and  later  a  congregation,  in  connection 
with  the  College  and  Seminary,  was  organized  in  the 


THE  ST.  LOUIS  PASTOR.  27 

southern  part  of  town.    Rev.  J.  T.  Brohm  became  pas- 
tor of  this,  "The    Holy  Cross    Congregation,"     Soon 
after,  another  congregation— "Zion's"— was  formed  in 
the  northern  district,  with  Rev.  C.  D.  Boese  as  pastor. 
These  four  district  churches  formed  one  joint  congre- 
gation.    Walther  was  first  pastor,  and  Pastors  Wyne- 
ken,  Brohm,  Buenger,  and  Boese  were  assistants.  Thus, 
in  the  course  of  time,  four  large  congregations,  each 
having  a  parochial     school  with  two  to  four     classes, 
came  under  Walther's  pastoral  care.     Although  pro- 
fessor in  the  College  and  Seminary,  he  remained,  to  the 
end  of  his  life,  pastor  of  this  Lutheran  congregation  in 
St.  Louis. 

Walther,  as  pastor,  was  very  conscientious  in  com- 
posing his  sermons,  and  never  went  into  a  congrega- 
tional meeting  without  being  thoroughly  prepared. 
His  sermons  were  worked  out  in  detail,  faultlessly, 
logical  in  arrangement,  precise  in  diction.  While  their 
form  satisfied  the  most  refined  taste,  their  contents 
were  eminently  doctrinal  and  edifying.  In  his  delivery, 
Walther  showed  a  rare  gift  of  eloquence,  which  riveted 
the  attention  of  his  audience  to  his  theme  and  held  it 
spell-bound  to  the  end.  He  brought  the  knowledge 
of  divine  truth  home  to  his  hearers,  urging  them  to  be- 
lieve firmly  in  their  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  and  exhorting 


28  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

them  to  lead  pious  Christian  lives.  He  despised  rea- 
son as  a  source  and  foundation  of  doctrine.  The  wis- 
dom and  authority  of  men  were  not  his  staff.  He  based 
his  teaching  on  the  revealed  word  of  God  and  impressed 
upon  his  hearers  the  necessity  of  rejecting  every  doc- 
trine not  in  accordance  with  Holy  Writ.  Whoever 
heard  Walther  preach  could  not  help  feeling,  "This 
man  wants  to  assure  me  of  salvation  and  lead  me  on  to 
it."  To  false  doctrine,  in  whatever  guise  it  appeared, 
he  was  a  foe,  whom  to  know  was  to  fear.  And  yet,  with 
how  childlike  a  faith  could  he  comfort  such  as  were 
perplexed  with  grief  and  stricken  with  despair!  With 
what  fatherly  care  would  he  labor  to  guide  aright  others 
whose  conscience  was  oppressed  with  doubts  or  temp- 
tations! He  would  study  most  scrupulously  the  spir- 
itual wants  of  every  soul  entrusted  to  his  care.  At 
congregational  meetings  it  was  his  wont  to  act  as  ad- 
visor, to  lecture  on  practical  and  doctrinal  subjects,  to 
reprove  meekly  but  firmly  those  uttering  false  opinions, 
and  thus  to  lead  the  congregation  to  wider  knowledge. 
It  was  often  a  task  for  him  to  settle  difficulties,  to  bring 
about  unanimity  in  certain  questions,  and  to  govern 
the  unruly.  And  these  labors  increased  as  the  years 
rolled  on. 

For  many  years,  on  some  evening  in  the  week,  in  a 
school  hall  on  Barry  Street,  he  gave  lectures  for  edi- 


THE  ST.  LOUIS  PASTOR.  39 

fication  to  both  old  and  young  people  of  his  congre- 
gation. For  several  years  he  lectured,  in  a  crowded 
hall,  on  "The  Right  Form  of  a  Truly  Lutheran  Con- 
gregation, Independent  of  the  State."  At  his  sugges- 
tion, a  Lutheran  Young  Men's  Society  was  organized. 
Its  object  was  to  lead  these  young  people  in  the  right 
path  and  to  interest  them  in  church  affairs.  Last,  but 
not  least,  he  undertook,  in  1844,  the  publication  of  a 
parish  paper,  "Der  Lutheraner,"  which  contributed  its 
share  to  the  spreading  of  genuine  Lutheranism  with- 
in, and  far  beyond,  his  congregation.  The  first  issue 
of  "Der  Lutheraner"  appeared  September  i,  1844. 
That  parish  publication  now  ranks  as  the  leading  Ger- 
man church-paper  throughout  the  Lutheran  world. 


THE  ORGANIZER  AND   PRESIDENT  OF  THE 

GERMAN    EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN 

SYNOD  OF  MISSOURI,  OHIO, 

AND  OTHER  STATES. 

The  "Lutheraner"  brought  Walther  into  contact 
with  other  Lutherans  besides  the  Saxon  immigrants, 
and  through  it  he  became  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  a  union  of  such  pastors  and  congregations  as  ad- 
hered firmly  to  Lutheranism  sound  in  both  doctrine 
and  practice.  Such  men  were  Rev.  C.  F,  D.  Wyneken, 
justly  called  the  Lutheran  Evangelist  of  North  Amer- 
ica, Dr.  Wm.  Sihler,  Rev.  J.  T.  C.  Selle,  Rev.  A. 
Craemer,  and  others,  together  with  their  congrega- 
tions. Pastor  Wyneken,  for  instance,  after  reading  the 
first  number  of  the  "Lutheraner,"  which  had  fallen  into 
his  hands,  joyfully  exclaimed:  "Thanks  be  to  God! 
There  are  some  more  Lutherans  here  in  America!" 
Wyneken's  hopes  for  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this 
country  were  revived.  He  saw  the  day  dawning.  He 
and  his  friends  held  a  meeting  and  agreed  to  sever  their 
connection  with  the  unionistic  synods  to  which  they 
belonged,  and  to  form  a  union  with  the  churches  rep- 


ORGANIZER  OF  THE  GERMAN  LUTHERAN  SYNOD.   31 

resented  by  Walther.  They  advocated  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  Lutheran  Synod  together  with  the  Saxon  im- 
migrants. Walther's  "Lutheraner"  served  as  the  organ 
by  which  the  truly  Lutheran  doctrine  was  diffused 
amongst  the  Saxons  and  the  congregations  in  the 
Eastern  and  Middle  States,  and  in  which  the  plan  of 
organizing  a  Lutheran  Synod  on  the  basis  of  the 
Lutheran  Confessions  was  published  and  discussed. 
Preliminary  conventions  were  held  at  St.  Louis  and  at 
Ft.  Wayne.  In  organizing  the  new  church  body  and 
framing  for  it  a  strictly  confessional  constitution,  all 
acknowledged  Walther  as  leader.  The  synod,  i.  e.,  a 
number  of  congregations  organized  into  a  church  body 
upon  the  basis  of  unity  of  pure  doctrine  and  practice, 
was  not  to  exercise  any  judiciary  or  governing  power; 
its  superintendence  was  to  be  strictly  advisory.  The 
draft  of  the  constitution  was,  through  the  "Lutheran- 
er,"  submitted  to  the  congregations  for  approval,  and 
finally  adopted.  Each  congregation  joining  Synod 
was  a  member,  and  would  be  entitled  to  send  to  the 
conventions  its  pastor  and  a  lay  delegate,  who  would 
be  voting  members.  A  pastor,  however,  whose  con- 
gregation had  not  joined  Synod,  could  be  received  only 
as  an  advisory  member.  Congregations  desirous  of 
joining  Synod  were  obliged  to  submit  their  constitu- 


R 

m  ^' fl^WMol 

f  1 

f' 

i      ■  '  J  ■    r*-fTV 

[I- 

•  •'             '      ~«L    ''*'■     " 

t 

i: 

1 

ORGANIZER  OF  THE  GERMAN  LUTHERAN  SYNOD.   33 

conventions  of  the  Joint  Synod,  which  meets  triennial- 
ly,  but  also  the  annual  sessions  of  every  one  of  the  many 
district  synods,  generally  leading  the  doctrinal  discus- 
sions. The  Reports  of  these  synodical  meetings  are 
a  treasury  of  true  Lutheran  doctrine.  For  a  number 
of  years,  at  such  district  conventions,  Walther  illus- 
trated the  topic  that  "Only  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
All  Its  Doctrines  Gives  All  Honor  and  Glory  to  God 
Alone."  He  certainly  was  an  instrument  of  God  in 
maintaining  unity  of  doctrine  and  practice  throughout 
that  large  church  body  which  the  Synod  of  Missouri 
in  the  course  of  time  had  through  God's  blessing 
grown  to  be;  nay,  furthermore,  he  was  instrumental 
also  in  this  that  other  synods  likewise  assumed  the  same 
firm  attitude.  When,  in  1878,  the  burden  of  the  presi- 
dency, in  addition  to  numerous  other  duties,  became 
too  heavy  for  him,  he  was  relieved,  in  order  that  he 
might  devote  himself  wholly  to  the  more  necessary 
work  of  instructing  future  Lutheran  pastors  in  Con- 
cordia Seminary,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  With  reference  to 
doctrine  and  practice  he  exercised  the  strictest  discip- 
line in  the  Synod,  even  as  he  had  done  in  his  congre- 
gation. He  also  lent  a  helping  hand  to  consummate 
the  union  of  a  number  of  genuinely  Lutheran  Synods 
into  "The  Synodical  Conference,"  being  at  one  time  its 
President.  The  heritage  which  he  thus  has  left,  is 
a  blessed  one,  and  will  be,  as  long  as  a  truly  Lutheran 
Synod  of  Missouri  exists. 


PROFESSOR  AND  DOCTOR  OF  DIVINITY. 

When  the  Concordia  College  of  Perry  County  was 
received  by  the  young  Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio,  and 
Other  States,  and  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Walther  was 
chosen  Professor  of  Theology  and  President  of  the 
Faculty  by  Synod.  His  congregation  was  very  reluc- 
tant to  part  Avith  him,  but  when  arrangements  were 
made  permitting  him  to  remain  their  pastor,  they 
finally  consented.  For  thirty-six  years  Walther  now 
instructed  hundreds  of  students — future  pastors  and 
professors — with  untiring  zeal,  profound  learning,  and 
minute  fidelity.  Happy  were  the  young  men  who  had 
the  good  fortune  of  being  taught  by  him !  In  his  very 
first  lecture  he  would  win  their  hearts  by  his  kind  and 
loving  words !  He  would  lay  bare  to  them  their  spirit- 
ual condition  and  show  them  their  future  calling,  and 
his  telling  words  went  home!  His  course  of  instruc- 
tion comprised  Encyclopaedia,  Hermeneutics,  Exege- 
sis, Homiletics,  Dogmatics,  and  Pastoral  Theology. 
He  would  give  his  students  a  bird's  eye  view  over  the 
various  branches  of  learning,  and  especially  over  that 
of  theology.     He  maintained  that  theology  is  not  a 


PROFESSOR  AND  DOCTOR  OF  DIVINITY.  35 

science  in  the  modern  sense  of  the  word,  but  "a  prac- 
tical habitude  of  the  mind  comprising  the  knowledge 
and  acceptance  of  divine  truth  together  with  an  apti- 
tude to  instruct  others  towards  such  knowledge  and  ac- 
ceptance and  to  defend  such  truth  against  its  adver- 
saries." He  gave  his  students  excellent  rules  for  the 
sound  interpretation  and  explanation  of  Holy  Writ. 
Guided  by  Luther,  the  Lutheran  church  fathers,  and 
the  fathers  of  the  ancient  orthodox  church,  he  led  his 
students  into  the  Scriptures  and  showed  them  how  to 
practically  explain  certain  books,  chapters,  and  pas- 
sages of  the  holy  volume.  He  taught  them  how  to 
make  outlines  or  sketches  of  sermons,  doctrinal  and 
yet  practical,  on  the  pericopes  or  on  "free  texts,"  for 
general  and  special  occasions.  Sermons  had  to  be 
written  out  in  full,  were  read  to  him  and  the  students 
for  criticism,  and  then  had  to  be  committed  to  memory 
verbatim.  Great  stress  did  he  lay  on  dogmatics,  or  doc- 
trinal theology.  As  text-book  he  used  "Baieri  Com- 
pendium Theologiae  Positivae."  He  not  only  correct- 
ed erroneous  and  misleading  statements  of  this  book, 
but  also  enriched  it  with  many  quotations  from  Luther, 
the  Symbolical  Books,  the  Lutheran  dogmaticians 
(Chemnitz,  Gerhard,  Quentstedt,  Calov,  Hunnius,  Hol- 
laz,  and  others),  and  the  fathers  of  the  ancient  church 


36  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

such  as  Augustin  and  Chrysostom.  Frequently  he 
would  state  a  doctrine  in  his  own  words.  Thus  his 
students  received  a  comprehensive  and  systematic  in- 
struction in  doctrinal  theology,  and  were  therefore  well 
founded  and  grounded  in  the  various  doctrines  of  the 
Word  of  God.  How  to  properly  perform  the  functions 
of  their  sacred  office,  when  to  apply  the  Law  and  when 
the  Gospel,  and  how  to  guide  a  congregation  and  lead 
it  to  a  wider  knowledge  of  its  rights  and  duties:  he 
taught  his  students  in  his  lectures  on  Pastoral  Theol- 
ogy. He  also  solemnly  charged  every  student  to  be- 
ware, on  the  one  hand,  of  becoming  a  servant  of  men, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  of  disregarding  the  divine 
rights  of  a  Christian  congregation.  He  earnestly  warn- 
ed against  hierarchical  tendencies.  In  his  lectures  on 
Friday  evenings  he  imparted  much  practical  knowledge 
and  sought  to  fill  the  hearts  of  his  students  with  a  holy, 
fervent  zeal  for  their  high  and  responsible  calling. 
What  great  things  have  been  accomplished  by  him  as 
Professor  of  Theology,  the  Lutheran  Church  can  never 
forget;  and,  though  he — being  very  modest — consid- 
ered himself  a  very  poor  instructor,  when  time  ends  and 
eternity  dawns  that  great  and  glorious  day  will  reveal 
him  to  be  a  bright  star  in  the  galaxy  of  the  faithful 
teachers  of  Jesus  Christ. 


PROFESSOR  AND  DOCTOR  OF  DIVINITY.  37 

By  resolution  of  the  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  the  de 
gree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him. 
This  event  was  celebrated  on  the  25th  day  of  January, 
1878,  in  the  aula  of  Concordia  Seminary.  Formerly  he 
had  declined  this  honor,  offered  him  by  German  Uni- 
versities, because  of  the  heterodox  attitude  of  their  fac- 
ulties. But  when  a  whole  church-body,  at  that  time 
confessing-  true  Lutheranism,  asked  him  to  accept  this 
title,  he  submitted,  although  he  declared  himself  un- 
worthy of  the  honor. 


THE  CHAMPION  OF  TRUE  LUTHERANISM. 

From  the  time  that  the  Saxons  settled  in  Perry- 
County,  Walther  was  called  upon  to  defend  the  Luth- 
eran doctrines.  At  Altenburg  he  exposed  the  errors 
held  concerning  the  Christian  Church,  and  vanquished 
his  opponents,  who  had  been  spreading  the  false  doc- 
trine. At  St.  Louis,  from  the  very  beginning  of  his 
pastorate,  he  had  to  deal  with  separatists.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  controversy  with  the  Rev.  A.  Grabau,  of  Buf- 
falo. Pastor  Grabau  and  his  followers  held  "that  the 
Lutheran  Church  is  a  visible  church  outside  of  which 
no  one  can  be  saved;  that  a  minister  not  called  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  ancient  'Kirchenordnungen'  (church 
forms)  was  not  properly  called ;  that  ordination  by  other 
clergymen  was  by  divine  ordinance  essential  to  the 
validity  of  the  ministerial  office;  that  God  would  deal 
with  us  only  through  the  ministerial  office;  that  a  min- 
ister arbitrarily  elevated  by  the  congregation  was  un- 
able to  pronounce  absolution,  and  what  he  distributed 
at  the  altar  was  not  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  but 
mere  bread  and  wine;  that  through  her  Symbols  and 
Constitutions  and  Synods  the  Church  at  large  must  de- 


THE  CHAMPION  OF  TRUE  LUTHERANISM.  39 

cide  what  is  in  accordance  or  at  variance  with  the  Word 
of  God;  that  the  congregation  is  not  the  supreme  tri- 
bunal in  the  Church,  but  the  synod  as  representing  the 
Church  at  large;  that  the  congregation  is  not  author- 
ized to  pronounce  excommunication;  that  Christians 
are  bound  to  obey  their  minister  in  all  things  not  con- 
trary to  the  Word  of  God,  for  instance,  in  building  a 
church,  school-house,  or  parsonage."  These  errors  of 
Grabau  and  his  friends  were,  in  part,  the  very  same  in 
which  the  Saxons  themselves  had  once  been  enshroud- 
ed. When  Walther  and  his  colleagues  now  pointed  out 
to  Grabau  and  his  followers  their  Romanizing  tenden- 
cies, a  controversy  ensued  which  lasted  till  1866.  In 
November  of  that  year  a  colloquy  was  held  at  Buffalo. 
There  the  majority  of  the  Buffalo  Synod  declared  them- 
selves convinced  of  the  truth  as  set  forth  by  Walther, 
withdrew  from  the  Buffalo  Synod,  and  joined  the  ranks 
of  the  Missourians. 

Meanwhile  differences  of  opinion  on  doctrinal  mat- 
ters had  sprung  up  between  the  Missourians  and  their 
friend  and  helper  across  the  ocean,  Pastor  Wm.  Loehe, 
of  Neuendettelsau.  The  latter  held  wrong  views  re- 
garding the  Ministerial  Office,  Chiliasm,  and  the  bind- 
ing force  of  the  Confessions.  In  order  to  prevent  a 
rupture.  Synod  sent  Walther  and  Wyneken  to  Germany 


40  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

to  confer  with  Loehe.  Though  many  obstacles  were 
removed,  a  complete  understanding  was  not  reached. 
Loehe  soon  resumed  his  hostile  position  over  against 
Missouri. 

In  1856  and  1857  Walther  had  to  defend  the  truth 
against  some  of  his  old  friends  in  his  own  synod,  who 
proclaimed  chiliastic  errors.  This  was  very  painful  for 
him.  Since,  according  to  God's  Word,  only  the  truth 
is  to  be  proclaimed  and  error  not  to  be  tolerated, 
synodical  connection  was  severed  with  those  who  tena- 
ciously adhered  to  the  false  doctrine  and  refused  to  re- 
nounce it.  Walther  also  raised  his  voice  against  the 
unionistic  practice  of  allowing  ministers  of  other  de- 
nominations to  enter  Lutheran  pulpits,  and  members 
of  other  denominations  to  commune  at  Lutheran  altars. 
This  pulpit  and  altar  fellowship  with  the  heterodox,  he 
showed  to  be  contrary  to  God's  Word,  and  maintained 
that  Lutheran  pulpits  are  for  Lutheran  ministers  only, 
and  Lutheran  altars  for  Lutheran  communicants  only. 
The  idolatry  and  anti-Christian  tendencies  of  lodges 
and  secret  societies,  he  condemned  in  strong  terms; 
even  so  the  bone  and  marrow  consuming  evil — usury. 
Doctrines  revealed  in  the  Bible,  he  refused  to  consider 
"open  questions,"  holding  that  questions  decided  in 
God's  Word    cannot  be  "open."    Others,    again,    on 


THE  CHAMPION  OF  TRUE  LUTHERANISM.  41 

which  the  Word  of  God  is  silent,  he  refused  to  have 
"closed,"  maintaining-  that  the  Church  cannot  develop 
doctrines  or  establish  articles  of  faith,  as  that  would  be 
adding  to  the  Scriptures.  For  this  he  contended  'n 
the  colloquy  held  at  Milwaukee,  in  1867,  between  rep 
resentatives  of  the  Iowa  Synod  and  representatives  of 
the  Missouri  Synod.  Iowa  regarded  the  doctrines  of 
the  Church,  the  Ministry,  Chiliasm,  and  Antichrist  as 
"open  questions,"  while  Missouri  held  that  these  doc- 
trines were  clearly  set  forth  in  the  Bible  and  therefore 
in  no  sense  open  questions. 

When,  in  1880,  former  scholars  and  friends  attacked 
his  doctrine  on  Election  and  Predestination,  into  which 
the  doctrine  of  Conversion  was  also  drawn,  he  held  high 
the  banner  of  true  Lutheranism  unfurled  by  the  For- 
mula of  Concord.  Though  the  controversy  raged 
fiercely,  he  defended  the  truth  victoriously.  Clearly 
and  powerfully  and  convincingly  did  he  show  that  the 
only  causes  for  election  to  eternal  life  are  the  grace  of 
God  and  the  merits  of  Christ.  Any  and  every  expres- 
sion implying  that  the  least  little  cause  is  to  be  found 
in  man,  in  his  conduct,  faith,  or  works,  he  rejected.  He 
was  the  foe  of  synergism  as  well  as  of  Calvinism.  With 
the  Formula  of  Concord  he  confessed  that  "the  eternal 
election  of  God  not  only  foresees    and    foreknows  the 


42  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

salvation  of  the  elect,  but  is  also,  from  the  gracious 
will  and  pleasure  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  a  cause  which 
procures,  works,  helps,  and  promotes  what  pertains 
thereto."  That  all  men,  by  nature,  are  sinners  and  to- 
tally corrupt;  that  the  natural,  unconverted  man  can 
resist  but  not  assist  the  grace  of  God;  that  man  is 
saved  by  grace  alone  through  faith,  or  that  man's  sal- 
vation is  the  work  of  God  alone — he  taught  and  defend- 
ed until  his  dying  day. 

Firm,  inflexible,  and  unflinching  in  these  doctrinal 
controversies,  he  yet  bore  with  meekness,  forbearance, 
and  fortitude  the  calumnies,  the  hatred,  and  the  some- 
times almost  Satanic  assault  of  his  adversaries.  How 
these  doctrinal  controversies,  taking  place  in  the  Luth- 
eran Church  itself,  agitated  him,  how  they  distressed 
and  wounded  his  heart,  may  be  seen  from  an  occur- 
rence of  the  year  1880.  After  a  discussion  on  the  "Fore- 
knowledge of  Faith,"  he  grasped  the  hand  of  a  former 
pupil  and,  looking  into  his  eyes,  said :  "I  ask  you  upon 
your  conscience,  in  the  presence  of  God,  Do  you  not 
believe  that  this  controversy  on  Election  will  shiver 
our  dear  Missouri  Synod  into  fragments?  Alas!  what 
will  become  of  us?  How  many  will  remain?"  The 
pastor  answered:  "Dear  Doctor,  I  do  not  believe  that 
any  will  leave  us,  excepting  perhaps  seven  or  eight, 


THE  CHAMPION  OF  TRUE  LUTHERANISM.  43 

who  are  not  and  have  not  been  Missourians  at  heart, 
i.  e.,  such  as  heed  the  Word  only,  though  it  be  con- 
trary to  all  reason.  And  furthermore,  we  have  thus 
far  never  asked,  What  is  expedient?  who  will  remain, 
and  who  will  leave?  but  in  every  controversy  only  this, 
What  has  God  said?  what  is  his  revelation  on  this 
point?  So  it  will  and  must  be  this  time.  And,  thank 
God,  you  have  been  the  foremost  in  our  ranks  to  de- 
fend divine  truth  against  all  human  wisdom  and  reason, 
not  concerned  about  expediency  or  consequences,  but 
confidently  committing  these  to  the  hands  of  God;  and 
surely  God  will,  this  time  also,  strengthen  you  true  and 
faithful  to  His  Word  in  spite  of  all  opposition." 
Walther  fervently  pressed  the  young  man's  hand,  and 
while  tears  trickled  down  his  cheeks,  said:  "God  bless 
you  for  these  words,  my  friend.  Onward  in  God's 
name,  for  His  honor  and  glory !  The  die  is  cast.  We 
will  confess  unto  the  end!" 

Walther's  clarion  voice  was  heard  not  only  through 
out  the  Lutheran  Church.  Atheism  and  Rationalism, 
the  errors  of  the  Calvinistic  and  Reformed  Church  hi 
all  its  branches,  the  anti-Christian  heresies  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholics — all  ever  found  him  an  alert,  unwaver- 
ing, uncompromising,  and  victorious  antagonist.  And 
it  cannot  be  denied  that  his  exposing  the  errors  of  other 
denominations  had  a  very  great  and  good  effect. 


THE  MAN  OF  LETTERS. 

Walther,  as  an  author,  was  very  productive.  In  the 
"Lutheraner,"  the  church-paper  of  which  he  was  edi- 
tor-in-chief for  more  than  thirty  years,  he  published 
hundreds  of  articles  that  were  highly  instructive  and  of 
great  value  to  the  Lutheran  Church.  We  call  atten- 
tion to  his  learned  yet  popular  articles  on  "The  Luth- 
eran Church,"  "Absolution,"  "Baptism,"  "The  Lord's 
Supper,"  "The  Means  of  Grace,"  "Justification,"  "Con- 
version," "Sanctification,"  etc. 

Since  1855  he  published  "Lehre  und  Wehre,"  at  first 
as  his  own  periodical,  later  by  authority  of  Synod.  Ar- 
ticles and  essays,  discussing  the  burning  theological 
questions  of  the  time  and  showing  profound  medita- 
tion and  scholarly  treatment,  flowed  for  upward  of 
thirty  years  from  his  editorial  pen.  Through  the  me- 
dium of  these  two  periodicals  Walther's  voice  has  been 
heard  throughout  the  world. 

Many  hundreds  of  his  sermons  and  orations,  deliver- 
ed to  his  congregation  on  Sundays  and  festival  days, 
at  confessional  services,  funerals,  and  weddings,  to 
synods  and  conferences,  have  appeared  in  print.     They 


THE  MAN  OF  LETTERS.  45 

are  a  repertory  of  thought,  models  of  elevated  and 
withal  popular  diction  for  many  thousands  of  pastors, 
and  for  many  millions  of  readers  a  means  not  only  of 
edification,  but  also  of  acquiring  a  more  thorough 
knowledge  of  Lutheran  doctrine.  These  sermons  are 
to  be  found  in  his  "Evangelien  Postille"  (Gospel  Postil), 
"Epistel  Postille"  (Epistle  Postil),  "Gnadenjahr"  (Year 
of  Grace),  Goldkoerner"  (Grains  of  Gold),  "Fest- 
klaenge"  (Festal  Chimes),  "Brosamen"  (Crumbs), 
"Casual  Predigten"  (Casual  and  Miscellaneous  Ad- 
dresses), "Predigtentwuerfe"  (Outlines),  and  in  the 
"Homiletisches  Magazin."  Besides  these  there  is  an 
excellent  volume  containing  his  prayers  and  addresses 
for  congregational  meetings.  "Die  Stimme  unserer 
Kirche  in  der  Frage  von  Kirche  und  Amt"  (The  Voice 
of  Our  Church  on  the  Question  of  Church  and  Minis- 
terial Office)  is  a  book  that  shed  a  volume  of  light  on 
the  topic  handled.  "Die  rechte  Gestalt  einer  vom 
Staate  unabhaengigen  Ortsgemeinde"  (The  Proper 
Form  of  a  Local  Congregation  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  Independent  of  the  State)  contains 
admirable  instruction  as  to  the  rights  and  duties  of  a 
Lutheran  congregation.  It  should  be  in  the  hands  of 
every  voting  member  of  the  church.  For  zealous, 
conscientious     ministers     Walther's  "Pastorale"  (Pas- 


46  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

toral  Theology)  is  the  best  text-book  and  guide  in  the 
faithful  performance  of  their  official  duties.  The  lead- 
ing thoughts  of  the  two  last-mentioned  volumes  have 
been  reproduced  in  English  in  the  "Theological  Quar- 
terly" (1897).  Besides  these,  some  of  Walther's  ser- 
mons, and  the  pamphlets  and  treatises  published  by 
him  during  the  "Election  Controversy,"  have  been 
translated  into  English.  Walther's  doctrinal  theology 
is  embodied,  as  a  system,  in  his  revised  and  greatly  en- 
larged edition  of  "Baieri  Compendium  Theologiae 
Positivae;"  by  parts,  in  his  treatise  on  "Justification/' 
in  his  essays  on  points  of  doctrine  published  in  the  an- 
nual Reports  of  district  synods,  and  in  other  writings. 
On  a  certain  night  in  the  week,  generally  on  Friday, 
the  Doctor  was  wont  to  lecture  before  his  students  on 
some  important  topic.  For  these  lectures  he  prepared 
only  outlines  and  notes,  but  his  hearers  wrote  down  in 
short-hand  what  he  said  in  detail.  Some  of  these  short- 
hand lectures  have  already  appeared  in  print,  e.  g.,  Ten 
Lectures  on  the  Law  and  the  Gospel,  first  series;  and 
again,  Thirty-nine  Lectures  on  the  same  subject,  sec- 
ond series.  Other  series  of  such  lectures,  on  "Conver- 
sion and  Justification,"  "The  Inspiration  of  the  Scrip- 
tures," "The  truth  of  the  Christian  Religion,"  "The 
Lord's  Supper,"  "Secret  Societies,"  etc.,  have  not  as 
yet  been  published. 


THE  MAN  OF  LETTERS.  47 

There  is  extant,  moreover,  a  large  number  of  writ- 
ten "Opinions"  on  cases  of  conscience,  rendered  either 
by  the  Professor  alone  or  in  conjunction  with  the  Theo- 
logical Faculty  of  St.  Louis,  as  well  as  a  great  part  of 
his  very  extensive  correspondence.  He  furthermore 
wrote  several  hymns  (composing  also  the  music),  which 
were  published  in  various  Collections,  e.  g.,  "Anthem 
for  Good  Friday  and  Easter,"  "Prayer  in  the  Tempest," 
and  the  song,  "I  Am  a  Christian." 

His  literary  work,  as  far  as  published,  fills  a  long  row 
of  royal  octavo  volumes,  gems  in  a  pastor's  library. 
God  gave  to  the  Lutheran  Church  a  rare  treasure  in  the 
writings  of  this  man.  They  will  be  highly  prized  as 
long  as  a  truly  Lutheran  Church  exists,  and  millions 
will  grow  in  knowledge  of  divine  things,  be  comforted 
and  edified  by  reading  and  studying  them,  and  bless 
his  memory. 


THE   ADVOCATE   OF   ENGLISH   MISSION 
WORK. 

Walther  was  a  German  from  head  to  foot,  but  a  Ger- 
man American.  He  served,  in  the  first  place,  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church.  Still  he  had  a  very  ardent  love 
for  English  mission  work.  Fully  recognizing  the  fact 
that  the  language  of  our  country  is  English,  and  that 
therefore  the  children  or  at  least  the  grandchildren  of 
German  immigrants  would  become  to  a  great  extent 
Americanized  in  language  also,  and  aware  of  the  con- 
sequent impossibility  of  retaining  for  many  generations 
the  descendants  of  German  Lutherans  in  the  folds  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church — he  very  heartily  ad- 
vocated Lutheranism  in  the  language  of  the  country. 
Although  he  did  his  utmost  in  encouraging  German 
Lutherans  to  cultivate  the  German  tongue,  he  yet  sup- 
ported the  plan  of  erecting  an  English  Lutheran  Acad- 
emy when  he  had  been  but  fifteen  years  in  this  country. 
Together  with  his  friends  Wyneken  and  Brohm,  he 
tried  to  remain  in  touch  with  the  English  Lutherans  in 
the  southern  states.  In  1875,  he  met  in  conference  with 
pastors  from  the  Tennessee  and  Holston  synods,  among 


THE  ADVOCATE  OF  ENGLISH  MISSION  WORK.  49 

whom  were  Revs.  J.  R.  Moser,  P.  C.  Henkel,  and  A. 
Rader.  Having  ascertained  that  they  were  one  in  faith 
with  the  Missouri  Synod,  he  was  in  favor  of  carrying 
on  Enghsh  mission  work  together  with  them. 

It  was  mainly  due  to  his  encouragement  that,  in  the 
spring  of  1879,  the  Southeastern  District  Conference 
of  Missouri  and,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  the  West- 
ern District  of  the  Missouri  Synod  expressed  their  wil- 
lingness to  take  up  English  mission  work  conjointly 
with  these  English  brethren,  and  that,  in  1880,  a  Board 
for  English  Missions  was  elected  by  the  Western  Dis- 
trict. In  1879,  a  pastor  had  been  appointed  by  Synod 
to  visit  the  English  brethren  assembled  at  Niangua, 
Mo.  But  the  pastor  was  unwilling  to  go  alone,  and 
upon  ascertaining  that  the  English  cause  met  with  lit- 
tle sympathy  from  a  great  number  of  Missourians,  he 
would  not  go  at  all.  Then  it  was  Walther  who  urged 
him  to  go.  At  about  10  p.  m.  one  day  in  October  after 
a  conference,  the  venerable  Doctor  almost  implored 
that  pastor  to  go  by  all  means,  and  to  go  alone,  if  no 
one  would  go  with  him.  Grasping  his  hand,  Walther 
spoke  words  to  him  which  indelibly  impressed  them- 
selves upon  his  memory.  "Dear  pastor,"  he  said,  "God 
has  brought  us  into  this  country,  and  without  our  merit 
has  given  us  the  pure  doctrine  also  for  this  very  pur- 


60  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

pose  that  we  should  proclaim  it  in  the  language  of  this 
our  country,  the  English  language.  But  alas !  so  far  we 
have  not  done  what  we  ought  to  have  done,  and  I  fear 
God  may  punish  us  on  account  of  our  ungrateful  neg- 
ligence, and  take  away  from  us  Germans  the  great 
blessing  bestowed  upon  us  till  now,  because  we  have 
not  done  in  the  English  language  what  we  ought  to 
have  done  in  our  country."  These  words  induced  that 
pastor  not  only  to  go  to  Niangua  at  that  time,  but  to 
embrace  the  English  cause  for  life. 

Walther  also  assisted  with  his  advice  when  in  1882 
the  first  English  Lutheran  missionary  of  the  Missouri 
Synod  was  called.  And  again,  at  the  convention  of  the 
Western  District  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  gave 
utterance  to  a  very  remarkable  sentiment.  In  the  con- 
stitutions handed  in  for  examination  by  a  number  of 
congregations  that  applied  for  membership  in  the  Mis- 
souri Synod,  a  paragraph  was  found  to  the  eflfect  that 
the  pastor  of  the  congregation  was  to  preach  in  its 
church  in  German  only.  When  the  report  regarding 
these  congregations  was  read  and  attention  called  to 
this  paragraph.  Dr.  Walther  said:  "Such  a  paragraph 
in  the  constitution  of  a  German  Lutheran  congregation 
may  have  been  of  some  good  thirty  years  ago,  but  it 
is  of  no  good  in  our  days.     I  consider  it  hurtful  to  the 


THE  ADVOCATE  OF  ENGLISH  MISSION  WORK.  51 

spreading  of  the  kingdom  of  God  through  the  Luther- 
an Church."  Not  long  before  his  departure,  even  on 
his  death-bed,  he  labored  for  the  English  cause.  It 
was  he  who  cherished  and  advocated  the  plan  that  all 
those  little  English  congregations  existing  in  1887 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Synodical  Conference  should, 
if  they  made  application  (which  they  did),  be  received 
as  an  "English  Mission  District"  into  the  Missouri 
Synod  and  thus  come  into  membership  with  the  Synod. 
He  foresaw  rightly  that  in  the  near  future  the  Eng- 
lish-speaking element  would  greatly  grow  in  numbers. 
Its  needs  he  bore  in  mind.  Far  from  being  averse  to 
English  mission  work,  he  was  its  warmest  friend. 


THE  FATHER,  CHRISTIAN,  GENTLEMAN  AND 
COMPANION. 

On  the  2 1  St  day  of  September,  1841,  at  Dresden, 
Perry  County,  Mo.,  Walther  was,  by  Rev.  E.  Keyl, 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Christiane  Emilie  Buenger, 
daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Jacob  Friedrich  Buenger, 
pastor  at  Etzdorf,  Saxony,  Germany.  Six  chil- 
dren were  the  issue  of  this  union.  The  eldest 
daughter,  Christiane  Magdalena,  is  married  to  Rev. 
S.  Keyl,  of  New  York  City;  the  eldest  son,  Her- 
mann Christoph,  born  October  25,  1844,  died  July 
24,  1848;  Constantin  and  Ferdinand,  twins,  born  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1847,  are  still  alive,  the  latter  having  been 
pastor  in  Brunswick,  Mo.,  since  1871 ;  Emma  Julia, 
born  July  27,  1849,  was  the  late  wife  of  Rev.  H.  Nie- 
mann, Cleveland,  O. ;  and  Christian  Friedrich  died  at 
the  age  of  one  year  in  1852. 

The  married  life  of  the  Walthers  proved  to  be  a  very 
happy  one.  Certainly,  trials  and  tribulations  were  not 
wanting;  but  in  His  good  providence  God  likewise  sent 
many  a  joy.  One  source  of  happiness  to  them  were 
their  grandchildren.     Walther  rejoiced  especially  over 


FATHER,  CHRISTIAN,  GENTLEMAN  AND  COMPANION.     53 

his  first  grandson.  On  the  23rd  of  August,  1885,  death 
bereft  Walther  of  his  good  and  pious  spouse,  and  he 
very  keenly  felt  the  loss.  In  fact,  he  never  quite  rallied 
from  his  sorrow  until  the  day  when  he,  too,  was  called 
away. 

Walther  was  a  true  and  faithful  Christian,  i.  e.  a  man 
who  acknowledged  himself  to  be  a  poor  sinner,  but 
clung  in  firm  faith  to  his  dear  Savior  Jesus  Christ.  A 
living  faith  was  within  him,  tried  and  cleansed  by  many 
temptations.  In  hundreds  of  letters  he  used  to  sign 
himself  as  "Your  most  humble  companion  in  troubles 
and  the  Kingdom,"  "Your  companion  longing  most 
fervently  for  the  life  hereafter,"  "Your  sincere  brother 
in  Him  who  loved  Himself  to  death  for  us  and  now  is 
sitting  on  the  Throne  in  order  to  pour  out  upon  us 
the  gifts  of  His  earnings,"  etc.  He  knew  his  old  Adam 
well,  and  bravely  and  watchfully  fought  against  him 
on  every  side.  Whoever  came  into  contact  with  Wal- 
ther would  observe  this.  In  the  humblest  manner  he 
would  apologize  where  he  had  been  harsh.  In  great 
humility  his  faith  shone  forth  before  God  and  men. 
Although  God  had  done  great  things  through  him,  he 
did  not  crave  for  renown,  but  rather  tried  to  avoid  ev- 
ery honor  bestowed  on  him,  giving  all  praise  and  glory 
to  God.     He  was  a  man  of  fervent    prayer.     All    that 


54  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

heard  him  pray  or  read  his  prayers  can  testify  to  that. 
Far  from  being  overbearing  toward  inferiors,  he  al- 
ways showed  the  utmost  friendliness  and  amiabiUty. 
He  once  declared  that  he  considered  the  least  one  in 
the  assembly  who  could  bring  the  Word  of  God  against 
him  or  his  opinion,  so  much  superior  to  himself  as  God 
is  higher  than  any  man.  He  even  challenged  the  devil 
to  prove  to  him  that  he  had  ever  impressed  the  sim- 
plest layman  as  being  impatient  of  contradiction. 
When  at  one  time  a  young  pastor,  formerly  his  scholar, 
asked  his  indulgence  for  differing  with  him  on  some 
point,  the  Professor  said:  "Dear  Pastor  and  Friend,  I 
know  you  and  understand  you.  You  will  not  contra- 
dict in  a  matter  like  this  except  your  conscience  be  un- 
easy, and  you  will  not  cease  contradicting  until  you 
have  convinced  me,  or  I  you.  Would  to  God,  all  spoke 
so  frankly  to  me !  That  were  very  good  and  laudable ! 
Such  frankness  I  love  and  esteem.  But  I  detest  such 
men  as  come  to  me  with  great  show  of  reverence,  deep 
bows,  hat  under  the;ir  arm,  and  'Doctor,  Esteemed 
Doctor!'  in  speech  and  manner,  but  send  Walther 
across  the  street  with  a  kick  as  soon  as  the  'Venerable 
Doctor'  has  turned  away  and  does  not  see  them." 

Walther's  authority,  as  pastor  and  writer,  being  real- 
ly very  great,  so  that  his  opinion  was  asked  on  almost 


FATHER,  CHRISTIAN,  GENTLEMAN  AND  COMPANION.     55 

every  important  question,  it  was  certainly  divine  grace 
that  kept  him  humble  and  guarded  him  against  falling 
from  grace  through  self-esteem  and  haughtiness.  He 
writes :  "This"  is  yet  a  consolation  to  me,  that  I  am  at 
least  a  monument  of  God's  great  mercy." 

Very  exact  and  conscientious  in  the  discharge  of  his 
numerous  duties,  Walther  was  also  exceedingly  anxious 
to  avoid  giving  oflfense  in  anything  he  said  or  did.  An 
amiable,  polite,  polished  Saxon  in  his  whole  bearing, 
he  could  converse  with  the  simplest  as  well  as  with  the 
most  highly  cultured,  with  high  and  poor  ahke;  yet 
he  became  stern  and  uncompromising  as  soon  as  divine 
truth  was  questioned.  Endowed  with  remarkable  con- 
versational and  musical  talents,  he  was  able  to  entertain 
company  pleasantly  for  hours.  He  appreciated  a  good 
joke;  his  own  always  had  a  pious  point. 

Many  stories  might  be  told  of  his  utter  unselfishness 
and  ready  hospitality.  Let  one  suffice.  Many  a  time 
families  of  poor  pastors  were  for  months  table-guests 
in  his  small  dwelling.  He  once  in  such  an  amiable 
manner  invited  a  poor,  sick  pastor  to  stay  with  him 
that  the  man  thought  it  an  offense  to  decline.  After 
he  had  himself  nursed  the  poor  man  for  more  than  six 
weeks,  Walther  declared,  he  was  convinced  that  in  the 
person  of  this  poor  pastor  he  had  taken  the  Lord  Jesus 


56  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

Christ  into  his  house.  To  those  enjoying  his  hospital- 
ity and  afraid  of  being  burdensome  to  him,  he  would 
say :  "I  thank  the  Lord  for  deeming  me  worthy  to  serve 
you." 

Had  he  chosen  to  accept  compensation  for  his  liter- 
ary work,  he  could  have  accumulated  a  fortune  and 
have  died  a  very  wealthy  man.  Many  thousands  of 
dollars  were  offered  to  him  for  his  manuscripts  by  peo- 
ple not  belonging  to  the  Missouri  Synod.  But  he  never 
took  a  cent.  All  the  thousands,  even  hundred  thou- 
sands of  dollars  netted  from  his  writings  flowed  into 
the  treasury  of  the  German  Synod  of  Missouri. 

His  manner  of  dealing  with  rude  and  unchristian 
people  may  be  illustrated  by  the  following  instance. 
While  on  a  journey  in  company  with  other  ministers, 
he  met  an  atheistic  Jew,  who  took  delight  in  mocking 
the  pastors  and  scoffing  at  religion  in  a  very  vulgar  and 
hateful  manner.  One  of  his  friends  looked  at  Walther 
as  if  to  induce  him  to  silence  the  mocker ;  but  the  Doc- 
tor quietly  shook  his  head.  When,  after  a  while,  the 
scoffer  had  exhausted  his  stock,  Walther  began  to  talk 
to  him  in  such  a  quiet,  polite,  and  yet  firm  manner  that 
the  man  was  thrown  into  the  greatest  confusion,  and 
was  not  only  silenced,  but  had  the  laugh  turned  on  him. 
Yet  the  rebuke  and  treatment  was  not  such  as  to  exas- 


FATHER,  CHRISTIAN,  GENTLEMAN  AND  COMPANION.     57 

perate  the  man.  On  the  contrary,  when  the  boat 
landed,  the  Jew  went  up  to  Walther  and,  grasping  his 
hand  while  apologizing  for  his  rude  and  arrogant  im- 
pudence, assured  him  of  his  esteem. 


FAITHFUL  UNTO  THE  END. 

In  a  wonderful  manner  God  watched  over  the  life 
of  this  man  whom  He  had  destined  to  do  great  things 
in  His  kingdom.  When  as  a  young  man  he  had  been 
given  up  by  the  doctors,  God  restored  him  to  health. 
Although  he  had  a  weak  body  all  his  lifetime  and  was 
often  on  the  verge  of  the  grave,  yet  God  enabled  him 
to  achieve  a  task  seemingly  impossible  for  one  man. 
God  prevented  his  taking  passage  on  the  "Amalia,"  a 
ship  that  was  never  heard  of  again.  Twice  God  saved 
him  from  being  drowned. 

The  old  Apostolical  doctrine,  which  Dr.  M.  Luther 
had  brought  to  light  again  at  the  time  of  the  great  Re- 
formation, God  again  set  forth  through  Dr.  Walther. 
Through  him  God  preached  the  doctrine  of  reconcilia- 
tion through  Jesus  Christ  with  fervid  eloquence  from 
the  pulpit.  Through  him  He  instructed  hundreds  of 
gifted  young  men  and  equipped  them  for  the  ministry 
of  the  Gospel.  Him  He  made  instrumental  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  great  theological  institution  and  various  col- 
leges.    Through  him  He  gathered  hundreds  of  thou- 


FAITHFUL  UNTO  THE  END.  59 

sands  into  one  church-body,  confessing  the  same  doc- 
trine and  observing  the  same  practice.  Through  this 
man  He  shed  the  pure  Gospel-Hght  over  North  Ameri- 
ca, South  America,  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  and  Australia, 
in  the  German,  English,  Norwegian,  and  other  tongues. 
Through  this  theologian  He  gave  to  the  Lutheran 
Church  a  pure  presentation  of  all  Bible  doctrines,  and 
to  congregations  in  every  part  of  the  globe  gems  of 
theological  literature,  both  instructive  and  edifying. 
He  made  him  a  theologian,  great,  learned,  in  the  school 
of  prayer,  temptation,  and  meditation.  He  preserved 
him  as  a  true  and  faithful  servant  in  His  kingdom,  a 
firm  believer,  and  a  conqueror  of  Satan,  world,  and 
flesh. 

Now  his  work  was  done.  God  called  His  weary 
child  home  to  rest.  His  last  lecture  (before  the  West- 
ern District  in  1886)  on  the  theme  "The  Fact  that  only 
by  the  doctrine  of  the  Lutheran  Church  all  glory  is 
given  to  God,  an  incontrovertible  proof  that  its  doc- 
trine alone  is  the  true  doctrine" — he  closed  with  the 
words:  "Yonder,  when  God  will  have  taken  away  from 
us  the  old  flesh,  our  doctrine  will  be  no  theory  only, 
but  we  shall  practice  it  also.  O  Lord  Jesus,  thereunto 
help  us  all.  Amen." — He  was  urged  to  take  a  vaca- 
tion, but  did  not  comply.    Since  his  birthday,  October 


60 


LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 


25,  it  became  apparent  that  he  was  growing  weaker 
and  weaker.     Since  November,  1886,  he  was  confined 
to  his  couch.     On  the  i6th  of  January,  1887,  the  fif- 
tieth anniversary  of  his  ordination  to  the  holy  ministry, 
his  golden  jubilee,    was    celebrated    in    all    Lutheran 
churches  of  St.  Louis,  and  by  many  others  at  home  and 
abroad.    He  was  able  to  sit  up  and  welcome  the  deputa- 
tions sent  to  congratulate  him.     He  remarked:   "To 
God  alone,  not  to  me,  all  glory  is  due— to  Him  who 
out  of  unmerited  grace  was  pleased  to  use  me,  a  poor 
sinner,  to  do  His  work.     In  my  lifetime  I  have  exper- 
ienced much  praise  and  much  reproach  from  men,  but 
believe  me,  dear  brethren,  I  have  become  indifferent 
to  both.    Away,  away,  my  God,  from  this  evil,  wicked 
world!"     Although  very  weak,  he  dictated  to  his  son 
a  letter  of  thanks  to  all  that  had  congratulated  him.     It 
was  a  severe  trial  for  the  man  accustomed  to  hard  work 
to  lie  there  unable  to  do  anything.     He  was,  however, 
very  patient.    He  complained  of  his  sin,  and  shed  tears 
of  joy  when  consoling  Gospel  words  were  spoken  to 
him,  saying:  "Oh,    that    good  comfort!"     Often    he 
sighed:  "O  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me!"    and    then 
prayed : 

"Jesus'  blood  and  righteousness 
My  jewel  is  and  festive  dress." 


FAITHFUL  UNTO  THE  END.  61 

He  was  confident  that  God  would  not  forsake  him  in 
the  hour  of  death.  On  the  5th  of  May,  when  an  old 
church-member  visited  him,  he  prayed  the  entire  23rd 
Psalm:  "The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,"  etc.— Wh^n  the 
brethren  had  left  him  to  attend  the  synodical  meeting 
at  Ft.  Wayne,  he  spoke  of  the  assembly  of  the  pa- 
triarchs and  prophets  above,  remarking:  "Oh,  that  will 
be  glorious."  He  prayed  very  frequently,  and  asked 
his  pastor  to  pray  with  him.  So  Pastor  Stoeckhardt 
prayed  with  him  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  May: 

"Should  this  night  prove  the  last  for  me 

In  this  dark  vale  of  tears, 

Then  lead  me,  Lord,  in  heaven  to  Thee 

And  my  elect  compeers,  for  Jesus'  sake.    Amen." 

When  asked  whether  he  was  ready  and  willing  to 
die  in  firm  trust  and  reliance  on  the  grace  and  mercy 
of  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  had  proclaimed  during  his 
lifetime,  he  replied  firmly  and  distinctly,  "Yes."  To- 
ward midnight  he  once  more  opened  his  lips  saying, 
"It  is  enough."  From  that  time  he  did  not  speak  any 
more.  All  Sunday,  May  7,  1887,  he  was  dying,  but 
gave  signs  that  he  understood  Pastor  Stoeckhardt, 
Prof.  Schaller,  and  his  son.  Pastor  Ferdinand  Walther, 
when  they  spoke  words  of  comfort  to  him.  He  over- 
came death  and  its  horrors  through  Jesus  Christ,  the 


62 


LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 


Prince  of  life,  clinging  in  this  hour  to  Him  who  had 
been  his  trust  in  life.  At  half  past  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  seventh  of  May,  1887,  he  peacefully 
departed  this  life  to  enter  into  the  blessed  rest  of  the 
saints. 

When  the  message  of  his  demise  reached  Ft.  Wayne, 
the  Monday  morning  session  of  Synod    was  made  a 
mourning  service.     By  request  of  Synod    the  funeral 
was  deferred  until  the  17th  of  May.     Rev.  H.  Birkner 
delivered  an  English  funeral  sermon.     Pastor  Stoeck- 
hardt  spoke  in  the  aula  of  Concordia  Seminary  on  i. 
Cor.     2:2.     In     Trinity  Church,  Rev.  H.  C.  Schwan, 
President  of  the  Joint  Synod,  preached    the    German 
funeral  sermon  on  Psalm  90.     Prof.  A.  Craemer  deliv- 
ered an  address  on  2  Kings  2:  12.    At  the  grave.  Rev. 
O.  Hanser,  of  Trinity  Church,  and  Rev.  Prof.  L.  Lar- 
son, of  the  Norwegian  Synod,  spoke.    The  latter  bore 
witness  there  at  the  grave  of  the    great    benefits    and 
blessings  which  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  had 
derived  from  the  deceased.     "May  that  faithfulness  in 
keeping  the  divine  truth  as  well  as  that  striving  for  sin- 
cere sanctification,  to  which  Walther  and  the  Synod 
whose  first  man  he  was  have  so  faithfully  exhorted  and 
so  powerfully  led  us  on— may  this  faithfulness— that  is 
our  sincere  wish  and  prayer  to-day— long  survive  the 


FAITHFUL  UNTO  THE  END.  63 

beloved  departed  one,  in  our  synod  as  well  as  in  his 
own!  May  it  be  so  for  Jesus'  sake.  Amen."  These 
were  the  closing  words  of  Prof.  Larson. 

The  Norwegian  Synod  was  officially  represented  at 
the  funeral  by  its  President,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Preuss,  and 
by  Prof.  Larson;  the  Minnesota  Synod,  by  its  Presi- 
dent, the  Rev.  J.  C.  Albrecht ;  the  Wisconsin  Synod,  by 
Profs.  Notz  and  Graebner.  Hundreds  of  outsiders 
were  present  from  the  Missouri  and  other  Synods. 
Never  before  in  America  have  there  been  attendant  on 
the  funeral  of  a  divine  so  many  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
and  theologians.  The  city  of  St.  Louis  had  never  wit- 
nessed a  larger,  grander  funeral. 

But  we  cried  within  our  hearts:  "My  father,  my 
father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof !" 
He  was  gone,  and  had  left  us  behind  to  mourn  his  loss. 
And  yet  we  know  that  to  him  it  was  gain ;  for  "blessed 
are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth ; 
yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors;  and  their  works  do  follow  them."  The  child 
that  prayed 

Jesus'  blood  and  righteousness 
My  jewel  is  and  festive  dress, 
With  this  shall  I  fore  God  prevail 
When  I  the  heavenly  portals  hail !" 


6*  LIFE  OF  WALTHER. 

was  now  at  home,  at  rest  in  the  Father's  house;  and  on 
that  glorious  day  of  resurrection  he  will  come  forth  in 
bliss  and  glory,  wearing  the  crown  of  righteousness  and 
praising  with  transfigured  lips  and  great  rejoicing  the 
Lamb  of  God,  which  bought  him,  and  brought  him 
there.  May  God  grant  us  to  be  steadfast  in  faith  unto 
the  end  for  Jesus'  sake. 


ERRATUM. 

On  page  6i,  fifth  line  from  bottom,  read  Saturday 
instead  of  Sunday. 


o?''"' 


Pf.nceiof)  Theological   5emm3r>-Speer   Library 


1    1012  01045  5501 


